Tuesday, 9 September 2014
THE RACIST AND RELIGIOUS POLITICS OF UMNO
WHAT NOW, MALAYSIA ??
by
Ahmad Mustapha Hassan
(Ahmad Mustapha Hassan is a former press secretary to second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the writer of the book, “The Unmaking of Malaysia”. )
Read here in Dato Din Merican's Blog :http://tinyurl.com/krvrtco
We are in troubling times.
After the 12th general election (GE12) in 2008, Malaysians felt that at long last, the country managed to create a new alternative to the corrupt UMNO Baru-BN coalition.
That euphoria, however, has proven to be short-lived. And now we are back to square one.
PAKATAN RAKYAT IS A LETDOWN
The formation of the three political parties–DAP-PKR-PAS- with very different and conflicting goals into a grouping that contested GE12 received tremendous support from the people.
Things looked very bright for the future well-being of the country. At long last, they felt that the corrupt and the racists would be ousted.
It shook the very core of the UMNO Baru-BN coalition. The UMNO Baru-BN government tried to counter its fear of being pushed out of office by persecuting and prosecuting opposition leaders through the use of the Sedition Act and politically motivated charges .
Now, UMNO Baru-BN has been taken by surprise at what happened in Selangor.
The much touted and admired Pakatan Rakyat is moving towards self- immolation.
The culprit in this suicidal drama was PKR, a most indisciplined party led by Anwar.
To all intents and purposes Pakatan is dead.
PAS SHOULD BE LEFT OUT IN FUTURE COOPERATION
A new beginning has to be initiated and what had happened should be used as guideline for any future cooperation.
PAS is most suspect in any alternative. It has many conflicting factions, and each is trying to exert its influence in any agenda that party undertakes.
PAS, therefore, should be LEFT OUT until a dominant and more grounded group from among them comes into power.
RELIGION IN POLITICS should be avoided as this can bring about disunity and misunderstanding in any attempt to achieve national progress.
Religion and the state CANNOT go hand in hand especially in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi- cultural country like Malaysia.
There is now a need for the coming together of all progressive forces in Malaysia to combat the current corrupt coalition of the self-centred and power crazy individuals.
DAP - THE PIVOT FOR PROGRESSIVE FORCES
The pivot for the creation of this will have to be the DAP.
It is the only stable and most experienced political party in the country.
It managed to weather all challenges and threats posed by the UMNO Baru-BN government.
It is corrupt free and has the ability to administer the Penang state government with efficiency and has created a progressive atmosphere.
UMNO-BN SHOULD BE VOTED OUT OF POWER
The next general election will be very important for the future of the country.
If UMNO Baru-BN is not voted out of power, Malaysia’s future is anything but bleak.
UMNO Baru has been playing racist and religious politics to rally Malay Muslims and maintain power. This has resulted in the formation of groups like PERKASA and ISMA.
The tacit support of UMNO Baru for these two disruptive groups will only encourage more of such elements to surface and create racial and religious chaos.
The result will be the further loss of intellectual capital. Already, the country has lost a good number of talented people and the brain drain will continue to the detriment of the country.
Talent will leave when it is denied equal opportunity.
The New Economic Policy has outlived its usefulness and yet is being retained in one form or another.
This policy, which was supposed to help the Malays to advance economically, had in fact caused them to lag behind. They have become overly dependent on government handouts. UMNO Baru politics had caused the Malays to be mentally disadvantaged.
This is a worrisome situation. Extremists Groups like PERKASA and ISMA are out to exploit the situation. Their very presence and their nefarious activities if left unchecked can wreck this country.
The political change must take place to avoid this catastrophe.
Pakatan as it is presently constituted cannot be relied on to bring about this change. Concerned citizens in the country will have to assert themselves and rally support for those moderate and liberal forces which seek a better future for the coming generations.
They need to support movements like Negara Ku and other civil society organisations.
The year 2018 is not very far away and positive steps must be taken now.
The vanguard for this very crucial mass movement will have to be the DAP.
PSM (Party Sosialist Malaysia) would probably be able to join in but the latter will have to shed its ideologue image.
- Ahmad Mustapha Hassan
Saturday, 30 August 2014
HADI AWANG FAILED THE MUSLIM YOUTHS OF MALAYSIA
Hadi Awang Could Have Been an Effective Muslim Leader in the Environment of New Politics in Malaysia Which Began in 2008
...Instead, He Chose the Wrong Path for Himself and for the Islamic Party.
READ HERE FULL ARTICLE : http://www.mal...aysiakini.com/columns/273103
In politics, there are always some characters who may have appeared to be rather dull and even mediocre, but may eventually rise to the occasion and establish themselves as statesmen (or women).
One such person is BJ Habibie (left) of Indonesia.As Indonesians look back at history, they really should not forget Habibie’s audacity in seizing the historical moment to right all that was wrong with the country, while giving credit also to the people who were determined for change, even if it meant they had to pay with blood.
Sadly, the same cannot be said of Hadi Awang, the PAS president.
Hadi Awang , too, was presented with a golden opportunity to help the country rid of more than five decades of Umno that is deeply tainted with nepotism, cronyism and corruption - three issues that consigned Suharto to history - but has only proven himself to be nothing more than a political flimsily calculative and full of vengeful spirit.
Hadi belongs to the generation of idealist Malay youths who, having witnessed student movements around the world, were inspired to change Malaysia through political activism.
His comradeship with Anwar Ibrahim actually dates back to the late 1970s when they were both prominent leaders of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), although the latter subsequently joined Umno rather than the Islamic party, which shocked many.
While he did rise through the rank to assume PAS leadership through hard work at the grassroots level, Hadi LACKS the critical outlook and skills that would have better prepared him for national leadership.
He was given a chance to prove his worth when Terengganu fell to the opposition following the Malay backlash over Mahathir Mohamad’s persecution of Anwar, only to squander it five years later.
When PAS was entrusted to run Kedah in 2008, Hadi did nothing to rein in the underperforming but arrogant Azizan Abdul Razak despite growing discontent over the latter’s administration, causing the Islamic party to lose in 2013 and, worse, making it possible for the equally uninspiring, run-of-the-mill Mukhriz Mahathir to become menteri besar.
Like the Ulama wing, Hadi Awang feels increasingly challenged and even threatened by the rise of the professionals within the party.
As the Young Turks in PAS represented by Khalid Samad, Saari Sungib, Husam Musa and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad become household names and seek to shift the political discourse from religion to policy as well as ideas of human rights and democracy, THE CONSERVATIVE FORCES (in PAS) well-versed only in religious rhetoric, ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO ADAPT TO A NEW ERA.
After all, not everyone could be as visionary as Habibie with the acute awareness that historic chances are hard to come by.
But in the case of Hadi, he has messed things up by refusing to allow a smooth replacement of menteri besar in Selangor out of his personal jealousies and sense of insecurity.
That he and his allies in the party are deepening the constitutional crisis by proposing more than one candidate to the sultan is indicative amply of his short-sightedness as a leader.
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has already secured the support of more than half of the support in the state assembly, and there is no reason for the sultan to request more names for consideration. The refusal by PKR and DAP to go along with the condition should not be interpreted as disrespect of the ruler, but a move to ensure Malaysia’s system of constitutional monarchy remain intact and well-respected. And this is not what SMALL-MINDED POLITICIANS SUCH AS HADI UNDERSTAND IT TO BE.
The longer the conundrum drags on, the higher the chances of more royal interference in other states in the future, and Hadi, Khalid Ibrahim and all their ardent supporters could one day be considered as undermining the foundation of Malaysian politics by simply procrastinating in solving the crisis.
It is indeed tragic that Hadi and his supporters refuse to tackle the imminent crisis but continue to indulge in their own selfish interests and calculations. Most likely, he will go down in Malaysian history not only as just another has-been, but also someone who, together with Khalid, is responsible for the erosion of constitutionalism in Malaysia. See More
...Instead, He Chose the Wrong Path for Himself and for the Islamic Party.
READ HERE FULL ARTICLE : http://www.mal...aysiakini.com/columns/273103
In politics, there are always some characters who may have appeared to be rather dull and even mediocre, but may eventually rise to the occasion and establish themselves as statesmen (or women).
One such person is BJ Habibie (left) of Indonesia.As Indonesians look back at history, they really should not forget Habibie’s audacity in seizing the historical moment to right all that was wrong with the country, while giving credit also to the people who were determined for change, even if it meant they had to pay with blood.
Sadly, the same cannot be said of Hadi Awang, the PAS president.
Hadi Awang , too, was presented with a golden opportunity to help the country rid of more than five decades of Umno that is deeply tainted with nepotism, cronyism and corruption - three issues that consigned Suharto to history - but has only proven himself to be nothing more than a political flimsily calculative and full of vengeful spirit.
Hadi belongs to the generation of idealist Malay youths who, having witnessed student movements around the world, were inspired to change Malaysia through political activism.
His comradeship with Anwar Ibrahim actually dates back to the late 1970s when they were both prominent leaders of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), although the latter subsequently joined Umno rather than the Islamic party, which shocked many.
While he did rise through the rank to assume PAS leadership through hard work at the grassroots level, Hadi LACKS the critical outlook and skills that would have better prepared him for national leadership.
He was given a chance to prove his worth when Terengganu fell to the opposition following the Malay backlash over Mahathir Mohamad’s persecution of Anwar, only to squander it five years later.
When PAS was entrusted to run Kedah in 2008, Hadi did nothing to rein in the underperforming but arrogant Azizan Abdul Razak despite growing discontent over the latter’s administration, causing the Islamic party to lose in 2013 and, worse, making it possible for the equally uninspiring, run-of-the-mill Mukhriz Mahathir to become menteri besar.
Like the Ulama wing, Hadi Awang feels increasingly challenged and even threatened by the rise of the professionals within the party.
As the Young Turks in PAS represented by Khalid Samad, Saari Sungib, Husam Musa and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad become household names and seek to shift the political discourse from religion to policy as well as ideas of human rights and democracy, THE CONSERVATIVE FORCES (in PAS) well-versed only in religious rhetoric, ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO ADAPT TO A NEW ERA.
After all, not everyone could be as visionary as Habibie with the acute awareness that historic chances are hard to come by.
But in the case of Hadi, he has messed things up by refusing to allow a smooth replacement of menteri besar in Selangor out of his personal jealousies and sense of insecurity.
That he and his allies in the party are deepening the constitutional crisis by proposing more than one candidate to the sultan is indicative amply of his short-sightedness as a leader.
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has already secured the support of more than half of the support in the state assembly, and there is no reason for the sultan to request more names for consideration. The refusal by PKR and DAP to go along with the condition should not be interpreted as disrespect of the ruler, but a move to ensure Malaysia’s system of constitutional monarchy remain intact and well-respected. And this is not what SMALL-MINDED POLITICIANS SUCH AS HADI UNDERSTAND IT TO BE.
The longer the conundrum drags on, the higher the chances of more royal interference in other states in the future, and Hadi, Khalid Ibrahim and all their ardent supporters could one day be considered as undermining the foundation of Malaysian politics by simply procrastinating in solving the crisis.
It is indeed tragic that Hadi and his supporters refuse to tackle the imminent crisis but continue to indulge in their own selfish interests and calculations. Most likely, he will go down in Malaysian history not only as just another has-been, but also someone who, together with Khalid, is responsible for the erosion of constitutionalism in Malaysia. See More
SULTAN HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO ASK FOR MORE NAMES
SULTAN HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO ASK FOR MORE NAMES, SAYS CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERT ABDUL AZIZ BARI.
http://tinyurl.com/lqwuzya
Without mincing words, constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari claimed that the Selangor sultan had NO POWER t...o request for more names with regard to the menteri besar post.
He also said THE REQUEST IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL since THERE IS candidate, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, with CLEAR MAJORITY SUPPORT.
"MAJORITY is the ONLY CRITERIA, thus the sultan has no power to ask for more names when there is already a majority," he told Malaysiakini today.
Aziz pointed out that UNDER PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM, THE GOVERNMENT IS OWNED AND ANSWERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE HOUSE, NOT THE PALACE.
And the PALACE's ONLY ROLE, he added, IS TO APPOINT WHOEVER THAT HAS MAJORITY SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE.
Meanwhile, Aziz said the request for more names when there is a clear majority also deviated from the usual practice in Malaysia.
Normally, he added, the sultans, governors, and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong accepted ANY NAME submitted by the majority party.
"Note the smooth changes the Agong and sultans accepted and appointed incoming leaders WITHOUT A FUSS.
http://tinyurl.com/lqwuzya
Without mincing words, constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari claimed that the Selangor sultan had NO POWER t...o request for more names with regard to the menteri besar post.
He also said THE REQUEST IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL since THERE IS candidate, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, with CLEAR MAJORITY SUPPORT.
"MAJORITY is the ONLY CRITERIA, thus the sultan has no power to ask for more names when there is already a majority," he told Malaysiakini today.
Aziz pointed out that UNDER PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM, THE GOVERNMENT IS OWNED AND ANSWERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE HOUSE, NOT THE PALACE.
And the PALACE's ONLY ROLE, he added, IS TO APPOINT WHOEVER THAT HAS MAJORITY SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE.
Meanwhile, Aziz said the request for more names when there is a clear majority also deviated from the usual practice in Malaysia.
Normally, he added, the sultans, governors, and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong accepted ANY NAME submitted by the majority party.
"Note the smooth changes the Agong and sultans accepted and appointed incoming leaders WITHOUT A FUSS.
SELANGOR PALACE IS PROLONGING THE CRISIS IN SELANGOR
Constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari said the palace is "unnecessarily" prolonging the crisis by "flouting" the rule of appointing the person who has majority of the House.
http://tinyurl.com/lsymc8e
Aziz, who had contested on a PKR tic...ket in the last general election, added that the palace is also going against the principle that "the sultan must have a government at all times".
"(A government) must be appointed without delay, as government business can only be done by an elected government.
"Sultan or civil servants cannot run the state as they are not elected and cannot be made answerable to the House," he said.
He said that with 30 reps backing Wan Azizah, the palace may "end up in an embarrassing position" as a candidate from PAS, for example, may only get up to 26 members to back him or her.
He also said PAS for making a "baffling" decision to accede to the decree unlike its Pakatan partners.
"But it appears that PAS has become the spokesperson for the palace as it (the palace) never denied what the party said about the wishes of the palace," he said. See More
http://tinyurl.com/lsymc8e
Aziz, who had contested on a PKR tic...ket in the last general election, added that the palace is also going against the principle that "the sultan must have a government at all times".
"(A government) must be appointed without delay, as government business can only be done by an elected government.
"Sultan or civil servants cannot run the state as they are not elected and cannot be made answerable to the House," he said.
He said that with 30 reps backing Wan Azizah, the palace may "end up in an embarrassing position" as a candidate from PAS, for example, may only get up to 26 members to back him or her.
He also said PAS for making a "baffling" decision to accede to the decree unlike its Pakatan partners.
"But it appears that PAS has become the spokesperson for the palace as it (the palace) never denied what the party said about the wishes of the palace," he said. See More
PAS Grassroots Upset with Hadi Awang
PAS LOYALISTS VERY UNHAPPY WITH THEIR PRESIDENT HADI AWANG FOR TRYING TO FORM A UNITY-GOVERNMENT WITH UMNO WITHOU...T THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PARTY
by
Abdul Rahim Sabri
Read here in malaysiakini:http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/273040
PAS loyalists are furious PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang attempted to form a unity government with Umno in Selangor behind the party's back.
PAS leaders, particularly among those who are pro-Pakatan Rakyat, were said to be incensed that Hadi had offered PKR deputy president Azmin Ali the post of Selangor menteri besar and enticed state assemblypersons aligned to him to defect to PAS - giving the party enough numbers to take over Selangor by forming an alliance with arch-rival Umno.
Hadi was reportedly confronted about the secret plan by other PAS central committee members at a party meeting on Aug 25 to discuss its latest move on the Selangor crisis.
Hadi Awang, through his political secretary Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, vehemently DENIED the matter ATER IT BECAME PUBLIC.
But SEVERAL PAS SOURCES told Malaysiakini that Hadi DID ADMIT at the central committee meeting HIS CLANDESTINE SCHEME TO WORK WITH UMNO.
The revelation even shocked some conservative PAS members who have been Hadi’s most ardent supporters.
PAS sources said that several leaders had engaged in a heated argument with Hadi at Monday’s meeting, while OTHER DISGRUNTLED MEMBERS GAVE UP TALKING TO THEIR LEADER.
Some PAS leaders were also upset that Hadi's stubborn refusal to back Wan Azizah had put them at odds with their Pakatan partners, THUS PROLONGING THE SELANGOR CRISIS.
The PAS muktamar, scheduled for Sept 18 to 20 in Johor Bahru, will not see any party election which was already conducted last year.
But a party insider told Malaysiakini that a manoeuvre against the president is not out of the question.
HISTORY OF PAS OUSTING ITS PRESIDENT
At least two PAS presidents have been ousted in past muktamar sessions, even though not election years.
The source drew parallels with the 1982 muktamar where the policy speech of the then president, Asri Muda, which would customarily be approved by delegates, was suddenly voted down.
The move was seen as a symbolic rejection of Asri, similar to how a defeated budget in a Westminister parliamentary system is taken as a vote of no confidence against a prime minister.
Asri, who later joined UMNO, was subsequently replaced by Yusof Rawa.
Meanwhile in 1986, Yusof himself came under siege when a motion on using the Chinese Consultative Council (CCC) to promote PAS policies to non-Muslims was rejected by the muktamar, even though the idea was promoted in Yusof's policy speech. "This was seen as a rejection of the president," said the source.
However, according to the source, the groundswell against Hadi may not have reached a breaking point as yet and those disillusioned with him may have to wait until next year's polls to oust him.
PAS elected leaders serve for short two-year terms, compared to other parties which generally observe a three-year term. "The president will be challenged (in an election)," the party insider said.
WHY PASS GRASSROOTS UPSET WITH HADI AWANG
1. Those upset with Hadi are puzzled by his particular resentment with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as their leader's anger against the opposition leader was apparent at Monday's meeting.
Hadi was reportedly outraged that two PAS state assemblypersons had unanimously backed Wan Azizah, seeing it as PKR's “theft” of its elected representatives, and used it to justify enticing defections from PKR to PAS and for the Islamic party to join forces with Umno.
2. Hadi had, in the past, also caused friction in Pakatan, particularly during the 13th general election, when he approved PAS candidates in several constituencies that the coalition initially agreed would be contested by PKR, resulting in three-cornered fights.
3. PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli earlier this month also revealed that Hadi did not want Anwar as prime minister had Pakatan taken Putrajaya the last general election, preferring instead Umno's Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in the top job.
4. Others are also unhappy with Hadi for his ‘one man show’ in leading the party.
This perception stems largely from the president's tendency to rely on his inner circle, mostly from the conservative faction, instead of delegating tasks or discussing issues with his elected lieutenants, who include the Erdogans.
WHO WILL SUCCEED HADI AWANG
However, many PAS members are in two minds about ousting Hadi as there is no clear successor given the convention since the early 1980s requiring that PAS's president be an ulama (cleric).
At present, there is only one ulama in the senior-most leadership, PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, with the deputy president and other vice-president posts being dominated by the Erdogans.
One of the party's vice-presidents, Salahuddin Ayub while conceding that the ouster of PAS president in the past was not unheard of, called on the members to judge Hadi fairly.
Regardless of whether a manoeuvre against Hadi is initiated next month or next year, the president can still rely on his core support base. Already, some of his supporters have come out in his defence, albeit subtly. See More
Selangor Sultan's Appointment of Khalid as Interim MB is Questioned
THE LEGITIMACY OF KHALID IBRAHIM TO CONTINUE AS MB IN THE INTERIM PERIOD UNTIL THE NEXT MB IS APPOINTED IS QUESTIONED.
Read here fu...ll article by Law Professor Gurdial Singh Nijar http://tinyurl.com/k7v56u7
( SINGH NIJAR is professor at the Law Faculty, Universiti Malaya. He is part of the Perdana Global Peace Foundation's Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal )
by
Professor Gurdial Singh Nijar
The disquiet expressed by the Palace over remarks regarding the Selangor MB crisis is perfectly understandable, and to some extent, even justified.
The LIMITS of a monarch’s discretionary powers in a functioning democracy has exercised the minds of many a constitutional lawyer the world over. The debate always intensifies and burnishes when there is intense political contestation; and a party feels that its mandate, so painstakingly won through elections, may be at stake.
As the Palace statement, with respect, correctly points out:
"The sultan wants someone who will take care of the RAKYAT'S NEEDS and develop Selangor to HIGHER levels".
AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO GAUGE THE "RAKYAT'S NEEDS" THAN HAVE THE RAKYAT ITSELF PROVIDE ITS FEEDBACK - THROUGH THE MEDIA AND OTHER RECOGNISED CHANNELS.
1. The rakyat chose the party that must govern. And their expectations as to who must helm the government to develop the state “to higher levels” must rank at par with that of the Ruler’s.
2. That’s why an orderly and smooth transition – consonant with respect for the ‘constitution and established conventions’, which is how the federal Court phrased it in the Nizar case, is vital.
And that, precisely, is what is being advanced.
3. Our Federal Court said that once this loss of majority confidence is made clear, then resignation must follow; indeed the Chief Judge said if the MB refuses to tender his resignation (as happened in the Perak case) “… the fact remains that the executive council is dissolved (which include the Menteri Besar) on account of the MB losing the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly”.
The Court went on to say: “Therefore, it is not necessary for the DYMM Sultan of Perak to remove Nizar and other members of the executive council”.
4, In short the MB and his exco lose all legitimacy to continue to govern.
5. BUT can the power to govern be extended? Indeed an intriguingly novel question.
Perhaps we can refer then to constitutional conventions established by the country on which our Westminster model of the constitution was crafted. An authoritative constitutional authority says this, of the practice in England:
“In the event of … resignation of the Prime Minister, the governing party would doubtless expedite its election procedures. If there were still to be substantial delay before a successor could be chosen, the Cabinet could be expected to bring forward a minister who would assume temporary leadership of the government, the Queen being invited to confirm his or her authority to act. Otherwise the Queen might call on the deputy Prime Minister or, if there were none, the Minister ranking highest in precedence to take this responsibility”.
Practically, THIS CONVENTION SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT IT MAY NOT BE QUITE APPROPRIATE TO APPOINT IN THE INTERIM A PERSON WHO HAS LOST THE MAJORITY SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY.
(Note: The Sultan asked Khalid Ibrahim, who had lost the majority support of the State Assembly, to continue to be MB until the next MB is appointed)
THE QUESTION IS : IN WHOSE NAME DOES THE PERSON (read Khalid Ibrahim) REJECTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE EXCO, RULE? See More
PAS CAN FORGET ABOUT NON-MUSLIM VOTES
IF PAS LEAVES PAKATAN, PAS WILL BE THE BIGGEST LOSER BECAUSE THE CHINESE WILL NOT VOTE THEM ANY MORE, SAYS FORMER UMNO SELANGOR AND CURRENT PAS MEMBER, TAN SRI MUHAMMAD MUHAMMAD TAIB.
http://tinyurl.com/lj5z5nf
Muhammad Muhammad Taib, .a... former Selangor menteri besar, who is also known as Mat Taib, reminded PAS that Chinese voters had supported PAS since it joined the Pakatan pact.
Muhammad said based on his 10 years experience in helming the state, he understood the voting trends of the electorate and he felt PAS would be safer if they continue to be with the coalition.
He said regardless of whatever decision the party takes, there should be cognisance that Chinese voters do play an important role.
Mat Taib was speaking to a Merdeka forum in Universiti Selangor in Shah Alam attend by about 100 people.
Mat Taib said,:
.
"PAS will lose out as the Chinese will NOT want to vote for them any more.
" Do not carry Allahu Akhbar sentiments only, we need to be practical with the needs and mood of the voters. If we miscalculate, Pakatan will win and PAS will not obtain any votes.
" If there is an election in Selangor, I feel PAS will lose at least 10 seats.
"I think if PAS takes a new stand, they will lose a lot. The Chinese voters will leave and will not vote for PAS candidates. I have looked at the Selangor voters trend and found that PAS candidates did not win with a huge majorities.
"This is based on my experience as MB. I know the trend, WE SHOULD NOT BE SYOK SENDIRI.
"If PAS changes its stand and feels that it can stand on its own or for example, wants to form a partnership with Umno, I think Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz (Nik Mat) had repeatedly stated 'do not believe'.
" Umno will continue to find opportunities to strengthen people's support towards itself in all kinds of ways.
"PAS had previously worked with Umno before and the partnership did not last.
"Umno only wants PAS when it showed some weakness. In my opinion, it is better for PAS to stick with Pakatan. Let Umno be with MCA and MIC.
"Any views that said Umno and PAS can administer together, that is just temporary. When Umno and BN regain back Selangor, they will kick out PAS when they are back in power.
"We must know our strengths. Don't change our strategies just because we have won because in the end, we will fall into Umno's trap."
http://tinyurl.com/lj5z5nf
Muhammad Muhammad Taib, .a... former Selangor menteri besar, who is also known as Mat Taib, reminded PAS that Chinese voters had supported PAS since it joined the Pakatan pact.
Muhammad said based on his 10 years experience in helming the state, he understood the voting trends of the electorate and he felt PAS would be safer if they continue to be with the coalition.
He said regardless of whatever decision the party takes, there should be cognisance that Chinese voters do play an important role.
Mat Taib was speaking to a Merdeka forum in Universiti Selangor in Shah Alam attend by about 100 people.
Mat Taib said,:
.
"PAS will lose out as the Chinese will NOT want to vote for them any more.
" Do not carry Allahu Akhbar sentiments only, we need to be practical with the needs and mood of the voters. If we miscalculate, Pakatan will win and PAS will not obtain any votes.
" If there is an election in Selangor, I feel PAS will lose at least 10 seats.
"I think if PAS takes a new stand, they will lose a lot. The Chinese voters will leave and will not vote for PAS candidates. I have looked at the Selangor voters trend and found that PAS candidates did not win with a huge majorities.
"This is based on my experience as MB. I know the trend, WE SHOULD NOT BE SYOK SENDIRI.
"If PAS changes its stand and feels that it can stand on its own or for example, wants to form a partnership with Umno, I think Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz (Nik Mat) had repeatedly stated 'do not believe'.
" Umno will continue to find opportunities to strengthen people's support towards itself in all kinds of ways.
"PAS had previously worked with Umno before and the partnership did not last.
"Umno only wants PAS when it showed some weakness. In my opinion, it is better for PAS to stick with Pakatan. Let Umno be with MCA and MIC.
"Any views that said Umno and PAS can administer together, that is just temporary. When Umno and BN regain back Selangor, they will kick out PAS when they are back in power.
"We must know our strengths. Don't change our strategies just because we have won because in the end, we will fall into Umno's trap."
Thursday, 14 August 2014
SURAT KEPADA TOK GURU NIK AZIZ NIK MAT DARI ZULKIFLI SULONG
SURAT PANJANG UNTUK TOK GURU NIK AZIZ NIK MAT
dari Zulkifli Sulong
(Zulkifli adalah bekas Ketua Pengarang Harakah, Harakahdaily dan Siasah dan telah bersama kumpulan Harakah selama 26 tahun, Sekarang beliau bertugas sebagai Pengarang Analisis dan Rencana.dengan Malaysian Insider)
KE HADAPAN TOK GURU NIK AZIZ YANG DISAYANGI.
Apa khabar Tok Guru?
Semoga Tok Guru sentiasa tabah dalam menghadapi penyakit yang dihidapi.
Saya yakin, Tok Guru dikehendaki Allah untuk terus hidup bagi menjadi penyelamat kepada parti dan jemaah yang Tok Guru pimpin ini ketika ia sedang dilanda badai sekarang.
Tok Guru,
30 tahun lalu iaitu pada 1983, saya menjejak kaki ke Pejabat PAS Kelantan untuk bertugas sepenuh masa dengan PAS. Ketika itu Tok Guru adalah pesuruhjaya PAS Kelantan.
PAS keseorangan ketika itu Tok Guru. Tidak ada kerjasama dengan mana-mana pihak. Sebagai pekerja muda yang baru berusia 20 tahun, saya tinggal di bangunan PAS Kelantan di Jalan Tok Pati. Setiap pagi Jumaat saya akan bersama-sama dengan allahyarham Ustaz Bunyamin Yaakub mempersiapkan Dewan Zulkifli Muhamad untuk Tok Guru mengajar.
Di situlah tempat bekerja dan di situlah juga tempat saya tidur. Saya masih ingat lagi bagaimana saya terpaksa makan mi segera selama dua hari ketika Kota Baru dilanda banjir pada tahun itu. Tanyalah Hashim Omar tentang cerita ini.
Kuliah Tok Guru ketika itu tidak ramai orang yang mendengarnya berbanding sekarang, tetapi cukup untuk memenuhi Dewan Zulkifli. Kuliah Tok Guru semakin ramai dari hari ke hari tetapi PAS hanyalah parti pembangkang yang mempunyai Adun tidak seberapa orang ketika itu kerana PAS bersendirian selepas ditendang keluar Barisan Nasional (BN). Tok Guru tentu lebih faham bagaimana ia berlaku.
Husam Musa (kini datuk) adalah bos saya ketika itu. Dia yang baru tamat pengajian dari Universiti Malaya (UM) bertekad tidak mahu bekerja dengan kerajaan kerana mahu berkhidmat sepenuh masa dengan jemaah. Husam pelajar yang cerdik masa di UM. Dia juga adalah pemimpin pelajar. Husam adalah setiausaha Penerbitan Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM).
Bagi memastikan beliau tidak dipaksa oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) yang memberikannya biasiswa agar bekerja dengan kerajaan, Husam tidak pergi ke peperiksaan akhir di UM Tok Guru. Akhirnya beliau hanya lulus dengan gred yang rendah dan dibiarkan begitu saja oleh JPA tanpa menawarkan tempat di mana-mana jabatan kerajaan.
Untuk membolehkan PAS mempunyai media, kami terbitkan Gema Pemuda. Mula-mula kami edarkan di Kelantan saja. Tanpa modal yang cukup tetapi dengan semangat tinggi, kami usahakan projek ini untuk jemaah. Kami terbitkan seminggu sekali dan edarkan di tempat kuliah Tok Guru. Apabila masuk keluaran ketiga, kami mula edarkan di negeri lain iaitu Kedah dan Terengganu pula.
Begitulah susahnya PAS ketika itu. Tetapi kami sangat senang bekerja. Tidak ada fitnah memfitnah dan serangan yang bukan-bukan kepada kami di kalangan petugas PAS.
Pada 1990, menerusi kerjasama dengan Semangat 46, kita berjaya merampas Kelantan. Semua kerusi DUN di Kelantan berjaya kita menangi bersama dengan Semangat 46 pimpinan Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Tok Guru dilantik sebagai menteri besar. Alhamdulillah melalui kerjasama itu, kerajaan kita di Kelantan kekal sehingga kini.
Kita berjaya menang besar lagi pada 1999 apabila kita bekerjasama dengan Barisan Alternatif (BA) iaitu bersama dengan DAP dan PKR. Bukan saja berjaya mengekalkan Kelantan, kita juga berjaya merampas Terengganu. Kita berjaya menang atas sentimen masyarakat Melayu terhadap penganiayaan yang dibuat terhadap Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Presiden PAS Allahyarham Datuk Fadzil Mohd Nor menubuhkan Gerak ketika itu dan membawa pelbagai pihak bersama dengan PAS melawan BN.
Namun apabila datang isu Dokumen Negara Islam, kita kalah teruk dalam pilihan raya 2004 kerana, DAP mengambil sikap keluar BA selepas tidak senang dengan kita.
Kita kehilangan Terengganu dan hampir kehilangan Kelantan. Beza kita dengan BN hanya tiga kerusi saja di Kelantan. Apabila pilihan raya kecil Pengkalan Pasir diadakan, kita kalah dan menjadikan beza kita dengan BN hanya satu kerusi.
Di era inilah Tok Guru banyak diuji. Pelbagai ujian datang Tok Guru. Yang paling besar dan saya masih ingat adalah Tok Guru diuji dengan menantu Tok Guru yang ketika itu menjadi ketua pegawai eksekutif Perbadanan Menteri Besar Kelantan (PMBK). Pelbagai fitnah yang Tok Guru hadapi.
Ingat tak lagi bagaimana Husam pergi menangis di depan Tok Guru memohon agar menantu Tok Guru itu ditamatkan perkhidmatannya? Akhirnya Tok Guru bersetuju dengan pandangan Husam dan selamatlah Tok Guru daripada fitnah itu.
Dengan pelbagai projek yang dibuat olehnya, kerajaan Kelantan berjaya mengharungi zaman cemas apabila bermajoritikan satu kerusi saja di Kelantan. Akhirnya pada pilihan raya umum 2008, kita menang besar di Kelantan dan juga Malaysia. Kita juga berjaya membentuk kerajaan di Selangor, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang. Selepas itulah terbentuknya Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
Melalui PR juga kita menang besar dalam Pilihan Raya Umum 2013 lalu walaupun kita kehilangan Kedah kerana perpecahan dalaman yang berlaku di dalam parti kita.
Tok Guru yang dikasihi,
Kini, buat pertama kalinya PR berada dalam suasana paling runcing sekali. Ini ekoran krisis yang berlaku di Selangor apabila PKR tidak berpuas hati dengan Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. Mereka memutuskan untuk menukar Khalid dengan Presiden PKR Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Namun, sebelum mesyuarat AJK PAS Pusat yang akan memutuskan sikap kita, Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang menyatakan sokongan terbuka kepada Khalid. Tok Guru juga kemudiannya menyokong pendirian presiden itu. Majlis Syura Ulama yang diketuai Tok Guru juga membuat keputusan yang sama, menyokong Khalid kekal sebagai MB.
Namun sehari selepas mesyuarat itu, Tok Guru dalam sidang media di Majlis Rumah Terbuka PAS Kawasan Kota Baru berkata kepada media, Tok Guru hanya mempengerusikan mesyuarat itu setengah jam saja kerana tidak sihat. Tok Guru juga kata, tidak berminat untuk campur urusan MB Selangor itu dan biarlah orang Selangor menguruskannya.
Daripada kenyataan itu, saya terasa Tok Guru cuba untuk menjarakkan diri Tok Guru dengan keputusan Majlis Syura itu. Apa sebabnya semua orang tidak tahu. Mereka hanya boleh meneka-neka saja.
Saya beranggapan Tok Guru cuba menjadi orang tengah dengan tidak memihak ke mana-mana pihak yang sedang berbeza pendapat ini.
Tok Guru yang disayangi,
Sejak 10 tahun lalu, saya mula merasai kehadiran suasana yang tidak sihat dalam parti dan jemaah kita. Ramai orang muda di kalangan kita yang mudah sangat membuat tuduhan dan fitnah sesama kita, seolah-olah nilai ukhuwah yang ditanam dalam setiap usrah dan tamrin yang kita lalui dulu sudah tidak ada.
Sejak kebelakangan ini Tok Guru, perkara ini semakin menjadi-jadi. Ada-ada saja tuduhan yang dilemparkan sesama kita. Mereka yang paling banyak menjadi mangsa adalah pihak yang mahu mempastikan PR yang kita dapat manafaat maksima daripadanya terus kekal dan utuh.
Saya antara sasaran mereka kerana tugas saya adalah menulis dan premis utama tulisan saya adalah mempertahankan kerjasama yang kita bina melalui PR. Turut diserang adalah beberapa pemimpin PAS. Mereka dituduh lebih wala' kepada pemimpin lain daripada pemimpin parti kita sendiri. Padahal jika itu benar, baik mereka menyertai parti lain bukan menyertai parti Islam PAS ini.
Ada antara kita yang mengeluarkan fatwa golongan yang mempertahankan PR ini sebagai Munafik Haraki.
Ada juga antara kita yang melancarkan Gerak 2 selepas Gerak yang pertama dilancarkan allahyarham Fadzil dulu.
Yang peliknya Tok Guru, Ustaz Fadzil menarik seramai mungkin orang perseorangan dan pertubuhan untuk bersama dengan kita dalam membela Anwar yang teraniaya, tetapi Gerak 2 mempunyai tujuan yang lain.
Gerak 2 dilancarkan untuk membela seorang individu yang kononnya teraniaya walaupun terpaksa menghalau sekurang-kurang dua parti yang mempunyai pengikut puluhan ribu yang selama ini berjuang bersama dengan kita.
Kita sekarang dalam dilema Tok Guru. Antara membela seorang individu dengan membela dua parti yang selama ini menjadi rakan kita berkempen untuk mendapatkan mandat dari rakyat.
Tok Guru yang dikasihi,
Saya penuh keyakinan, PAS mendapat manafaat maksima apabila kita bekerjasama dengan pihak lain berbanding dengan kita bersendirian.
Lihatlah apa berlaku kepada kita di tahun 1980-an apabila kita bersendirian dan pada 2004 apabila pihak lain meninggalkan kita.
Bandingkan dengan apa yang kita dapat apabila kita bersama dengan Semangat 46 pada 1990 dan apabila bersama Pakatan Rakyat pada 2008 dan 2013.
Kini Tok Guru, ada semacam satu kecenderungan kita hendak diajak agar bersendirian semula. Semua keputusan, ucapan, tulisan melalui media sosial dan sebagainya menjurus ke arah kita bersendirian.
Saya dengan rendah hati memohon Tok Guru agar campur tangan segera. Jangan dibiarkan jemaah kita ini terpaksa berundur ke belakang iaitu zaman 30 tahun lalu. Jika itu berlaku saya yakin, kita akan memerlukan 30 tahun lagi untuk membina semula jemaah kita ini untuk mencapai tahap yang ada sekarang.
Sekian Tok Guru. Terima kasih kerana sudi membaca coretan panjang saya ini.
Saya sanggup bersengkang mata untuk menulisnya kerana hanya Tok Guru harapan saya untuk menyelesaikan kemelut ini.
- ZULKIFLI SULONG
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